In an effort to provide flood protection and to improve overall drainage through the watershed, the City identified a ditch project known as the 656W Wetland Outlet Project.  This project (as illustrated on the enclosed aerial photograph) creates an outlet for wetland 656W, the large wetland complex south of Alpine Drive and east of Ramsey Blvd., through the construction of approximately 3000 feet of drainage ditch and/or culvert installation.

 

The need for this project was identified in the early to mid 1990’s, and a drainage easement plat was prepared in 1995 to facilitate the acquisition of the necessary easements.  Most of the easements were acquired at that time, but the project was not advanced because the drainage from this ditch was to flow into County Ditch #3/66, which was seriously clogged.  The City restored County Ditch #3/66 to its original cross section in 2006 and the ditch cleaning project was awarded by Council on February 8, 2011.

 

A majority of the required easements to complete the project were secured in the mid-1990's but two additional easements were necessary, and they were discussed with the Council on October 26, 2010.  Staff and Council agreed on the outstanding easement terms, and they were successfully acquired in early 2011.  The project was implemented in late February of 2011, and during the collecting of field data it was discovered that the original ditch channel had migrated slightly out of the easement area that had just recently been acquired at 7130 156th Avenue NW (see attached exhibit).  Staff contacted the property owner to discuss this matter and it was agreed that a revised easement would be described to follow the existing drainage pattern, as opposed to re-trenching the ditch in its old alignment, which would ultimately result in less disturbance to the property.

 

Attached is a Quit Claim Deed that deeds the existing easement back to the property owner, which will concurrently be replaced with a new easement in the desired location.  The City attorney has prepared these legal documents and will be ensuring that the City retains the appropriate easement, such that we can adequately maintain this ditch in perpetuity.